Country Music in the 1960s: A Look Back at the Biggest Artists, Moments + More

Woodstock, protest songs, the Beatles ... The 1960s were a huge decade for music -- and country music was no exception. The '60s introduced country music fans countless future classic songs, albums and artists.

Below, take a look back at the songs, milestones and trends that summed up country music in the 1960s.

Country Music Milestones of the 1960s

March 29, 1960: Tootsie's Orchid Lounge opens. The venue now known as Tootsie's was open prior to 1960 as Mom's, but it changed names when Hattie Louise "Tootsie" Bess purchased the restaurant and gave it its now-famous name after a painter, to her surprise, painted its exterior purple.

April 1, 1967: The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum opens. The Hall of Fame quickly became a destination for not only tourists but also Music City locals, who came to view artifacts from their favorite country music artists, past and present.

Jan. 13, 1968: Johnny Cash records his At Folsom Prison album. By the time Cash recorded his Folsom Prison live album, he had been performing at prisons for several years, after having his own run-ins with the law, mostly due to drugs.

The Best of Country Music in the 1960s

Top 10 Country Songs of the 1960s: From songs so timeless we forget there was a time they didn't exist to recordings that feel entirely of their time, the 1960s are a wealth of country music.Top 10 Country Albums of the 1960s: The 1960s were a decade of transition in country music: Traditional country was still king, but more and more game-changing acts were starting to filter in. For every album of classic country standards released in the 1960s, there was an album that was starting to urge the genre in newer, bigger directions.Top 10 Country Artists of the 1960s: Country music came into its own during the 1950s and '60s, in parallel with the rise of rock 'n' roll, soul and R&B. In fact, it's not a stretch to say all of these genres informed each other at various points, from Johnny Cash's outlaw sounds to Tammy Wynette's brutally honest tearjerkers.

Country Music in the 1960s: Hear a Playlist

For a trip back in time, give this Spotify playlist a listen. Before you "Fall to Pieces," take a "Walk Through This World ..." with Patsy Cline, George Jones and many more.